A popular Gambian rapper and activist, Ali Cham commonly known as Killa Ace, has been arrested by police with dozen other youths in connection to a protest in July against the death of a Sierra Leonean national Ousman Darboe.

Darboe, a 33-year old businessman was arrested by the police Anti-Crime Unit and detained briefly. Darboe later died after his release. The youths said the asthmatic patient was tortured while in police custody.

A protest later erupted in the city beginning at the Serrakunda market where Darboe owns a shop selling mobile phones.

The protesters later went to burn the house of the head of the police Anti-Crime Unit, Gorgi Mboob. The Unit’s headquarters at Bijilo was also reportedly attacked and during the protest a police station was also destroyed at Bakoteh.

Killa Ace’s close associate Yusef Taylor confirmed his arrest, adding that he was charged with “willful damage”. The charges are reportedly in connection to the protest but it is not clear on what specific role he may have played in it.

Taylor who has visited Ace at the Tallinding Police Station said he was arrested with at least over a dozen people. Kerr Fatou has made attempts to speak to the police spokesperson but calls were not successful.

“We have now got word that he (Killa Ace) has now been taken to Anti-Crime Headquarters in Bijilo,” Taylor told Kerr Fatou.

According to Mr Taylor, a brother of the late Ousman Darboe, Muhammed Darboe, was also among the detainees. Taylor is a Gambian activist and a journalist who write for Gainako online newspaper.